Proposal would rezone areas along Valhi Boulevard extension

Published: Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 12:05 a.m.

New zoning ordinances along the newly opened Valhi Boulevard extension near the Lakes Subdivision in Houma may be on the horizon.

The council will hear a request by Terrebonne zoning officials during a series of committee meetings Monday.

All nine council members serve on the committees. The meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Government Tower, 8026 Main St., Houma. The full council will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Meeting as its Planning Committee, the council will decide whether to schedule a Dec. 19 public hearing to discuss proposed changes that would allow industry to set up shop along Valhi Boulevard from Equity Boulevard to Savanne Road.

The issue arose in May after planning officials proposed changes that would allow industry to build on what now are vacant lots.

After some residents opposed the plan, officials came up with a new proposal aimed at easing neighbors' concerns.

It would establish a buffer zone between homes and any new businesses. Small commercial businesses such as retail shops and boutiques could operate within the zone.

Those businesses would create a buffer between residential neighborhoods and the proposed industrial area, Planning Director Pat Gordon said.

Zoning officials are recommending approval of the new proposal because it will keep up with projected growth along the Valhi extension, Gordon said.

The east side of Valhi would be rezoned as neighborhood commercial, while the west side would be rezoned to light industrial, Gordon said.

Neighborhood-commercial zoning allows businesses such as small strip malls and convenience stores to build but not establishments that sell alcohol to be consumed on the property.

"There will be no barrooms, no daiquiri huts or anything like that," Gordon said. "It's commercial (establishments) that cater to residential needs, so an individual doesn't have to drive for miles to get to a location."

Light-industrial zoning allows for small manufacturing operations that are to be enclosed in a structure.

"These businesses will be required to be enclosed within a mason fašade, like brick or stucco," Gordon said. "And they can only have monument signs, and landscaping is required."

Gordon said now that the Valhi extension is open it's better to rezone all of the property along the road to alleviate developers from having to propose to the Planning Commission a request for each property.

The neighborhood-commercial land use is not restricted from building homes.

But Gordon said having driveways extend to Valhi may pose issues with traffic and safety.

A driveway might encourage kids to play near the road, Gordon said, and also cars backing out of the driveway could stall traffic.

In other action, the council is expected to extend an existing agreement between parish government and the South Louisiana Wetland Discovery Center.

The partnership would donate the existing property next to the Civic Center Hotel to the center to build a youth museum focused on environmental education under the condition that the center raises $500,000 for the building's construction within five years.

The project has been in the works for years.

Parish President Michel Claudet said the museum would benefit the community.

"It educates everyone on the problems we are having with our wetlands and the necessity for us to restore our coast," he said.

<p>New zoning ordinances along the newly opened Valhi Boulevard extension near the Lakes Subdivision in Houma may be on the horizon.</p><p>The council will hear a request by Terrebonne zoning officials during a series of committee meetings Monday.</p><p>All nine council members serve on the committees. The meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Government Tower, 8026 Main St., Houma. The full council will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday.</p><p>Meeting as its Planning Committee, the council will decide whether to schedule a Dec. 19 public hearing to discuss proposed changes that would allow industry to set up shop along Valhi Boulevard from Equity Boulevard to Savanne Road.</p><p>The issue arose in May after planning officials proposed changes that would allow industry to build on what now are vacant lots.</p><p>After some residents opposed the plan, officials came up with a new proposal aimed at easing neighbors' concerns.</p><p>It would establish a buffer zone between homes and any new businesses. Small commercial businesses such as retail shops and boutiques could operate within the zone.</p><p>Those businesses would create a buffer between residential neighborhoods and the proposed industrial area, Planning Director Pat Gordon said.</p><p>Zoning officials are recommending approval of the new proposal because it will keep up with projected growth along the Valhi extension, Gordon said.</p><p>The east side of Valhi would be rezoned as neighborhood commercial, while the west side would be rezoned to light industrial, Gordon said.</p><p>Neighborhood-commercial zoning allows businesses such as small strip malls and convenience stores to build but not establishments that sell alcohol to be consumed on the property. </p><p>"There will be no barrooms, no daiquiri huts or anything like that," Gordon said. "It's commercial (establishments) that cater to residential needs, so an individual doesn't have to drive for miles to get to a location." </p><p>Light-industrial zoning allows for small manufacturing operations that are to be enclosed in a structure. </p><p>"These businesses will be required to be enclosed within a mason fašade, like brick or stucco," Gordon said. "And they can only have monument signs, and landscaping is required." </p><p>Gordon said now that the Valhi extension is open it's better to rezone all of the property along the road to alleviate developers from having to propose to the Planning Commission a request for each property. </p><p>The neighborhood-commercial land use is not restricted from building homes.</p><p>But Gordon said having driveways extend to Valhi may pose issues with traffic and safety.</p><p>A driveway might encourage kids to play near the road, Gordon said, and also cars backing out of the driveway could stall traffic.</p><p>In other action, the council is expected to extend an existing agreement between parish government and the South Louisiana Wetland Discovery Center.</p><p>The partnership would donate the existing property next to the Civic Center Hotel to the center to build a youth museum focused on environmental education under the condition that the center raises $500,000 for the building's construction within five years.</p><p>The project has been in the works for years.</p><p>Parish President Michel Claudet said the museum would benefit the community. </p><p>"It educates everyone on the problems we are having with our wetlands and the necessity for us to restore our coast," he said.</p>